Improvement in plows



R. D. PORTER.

improvement in Flows.

N0.128,505, Patentedlu|y2,l872.

Inven for;

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT D. PORTER, OF zANEsviLLE, OHIO, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALF OE nrs RIGHTTo wELLs w; LEGGETT, OE WASHINGTON, D. o..

IMPROVEMENT IN PLOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,505, dated July 2,1872.

Be it known that I, ROBERT D. PORTER, of Zanesville, county ofMuskingum, State of Ohio, have invented a new and improved Plow and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of thesame, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertainsto make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawingforming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the beam, in the clevis,in the handle attachments, and in other parts.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents side elevation of the plow, in whichA is the beam; B, the clevis. b is a bolt passing through the ring B ofthe clevis. a is slot in the end of the beam, into which the clevisrises when strained by the traces. a is the continuation of the beam,which supports the elevis-hook when the traces are slack and preventsdisengagement of the single-tree. C are the handles,-retained by aband-head bolt, 0, and secured by nut c to the beam A. D are theadjustable braces, retained by rod e at the top and nut e, and at bottomby bolt d, which passes through an adjusting-eye, D, and is secured bythe nut 01, being screwed down flush with the flattened surface D. ffare the rounds or braces between the handles. Fig. 2 is end elevation ofthe plow from behind. Fig. 3 is plan and elevation of one of theadjusting-braces. Fig. 4. is plan and elevation of the clevis andisometric projection of the front end of the plow-beam.

My invention consists, first, in the plowbeam A, when made of acontinuous piece of iron, bent short at the front end so as just toleave room for a free motion of the inclosed clevis-ring, and at therear end bent downward and forward in the usual manner, and

finally enlarged behind theplow-shovels so as to receive theretaining-bolts d d and form a secure brace to the shovels. At the frontend of the beam, a few inches back from extreme end, I make an eyethrough the two arms of the plow-beam to receive a bolt, 1). This boltpasses through the ring B of the clevis, and is secured with a nut, b.a, Fig. 3, is a slot made in the lower edge of the front end of thebeam, into which the stem of the clevis is raised when it is desired toattach the singletreeto the clevis-hook, and it will be in thisposition, also, whenever the traces are strained but when they areslackened the elevis'B will drop, and the hook will rest upon thecontinuation a of the beam and close the opening, thus preventing thesin gle-tree from unfastening. Second, I attach the lower ends of theplow-handles to the inside of the arms of the beam, with bolts providedwith band-heads c, which inclose the handles and prevent them fromsplitting open or working loose upon the bolts. These bolts, passingthrough the arms of the beam, are secured by a nut, c", to the outside.Just above these fastenin gs around or brace, f, is placed between thehandles, and while this brace prevents collapse of the arms, beingplaced just back of the fastenings, it acts as a fulcrum between thefastenings c and bolt 6, by which the structure is greatly stiffened andprevented from working loose. Third, I make the rods or braces Dadjustable at the bottom, and by means of holes D, instead of acontinuous slot. They therefore never project above the handles at thetop. It is well known that the more erect the handles of a plow can bemade the more easily can it be managed. I therefore make the curves atthe back ends of the beam as short as possible, so as to admit ofplacing the handleattachmentthe furthest distance back. I then place thehandles as nearly erect as practicable and brace them with theadjustable braces D, which, springing from behind the plow-shovels,terminate at the two endsof the same rod 0. These braces pass straightfrom the rod 0 to the bolt 01, and are therefore in the best position tosecure rigidity in the frame. These braces are fastened to.the outsideof the handles, and are shaped to correspond with the surfaces of thesame. The brace or round f j ust above this rod, taken in connectionwith the tightening action of the nut e and the slight elasticity of theplow-handles between the rounds f f, serve to render the frame verystifi and prevent any wearing loose by use. The positions of the handlesand of the braces D in this plow are such as to admit of the shortestbeam possible, which is a great advantage in a plow.

I know that a plow has been made with the handles fastened to theoutside of the beam, and with a single bolt passing clear through botharms at the fastening. I know also that I I 12s, 505

adjustable braces have been attachedat different points between thehandles and. the shovel, made simply to admit of raising or lowering thehandles, projecting above the handles, and not acting as a brace to theshovel, and not terminating at the top on the same rod. Another has beenmade with braces starting at the shovel-bolt, but curved along thesurface of the shovel stem or arm, and finally not terminating at theend of the same rod at the top. These are adjustable at the top, and,since they do not spring directly from the bolt to the attachment at thehandle, do not serve as an efl'ectual brace to the shovels. I do nottherefore claim, broadly, adjustable braces; but, I

. 1. The clevis device, composed of hook B, ring B, and bolt 1), incombination with the plow-beam A, when provided with the slot a andobstruction or or its equivalent.

2. The adjustable braces D D, when termi nating at the top at the rod ee and at the shovel-bolts below, provided with flattened ends D D andeyes D c, all substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In a double-shovel plow, the combination of the handles 0 0, rod 0,braces f f, and attachment c 0, when arranged with relation to eachother and operating substantially as set forth.

RQBT. D. Witnesses:

SAMUEL OLDHAM, JAMES M. RUsK.

